How to Write 厄 (unlucky, misfortune, bad luck, disaster) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 厄 (“unlucky, misfortune, bad luck, disaster”), indexed under the 厂 (がんだれ (cliff)) radical. Practice 厄 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 厄 (ヤク / やく (yaku) — unlucky).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (厄)
Primary Radical (部首): 厂 — がんだれ (cliff)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 厂
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 厄 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヤク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 厄 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 厂 (がんだれ (cliff)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 厂 (がんだれ (cliff))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 厂.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 厄
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 厄 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 厄 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 厄 ("unlucky, misfortune, bad luck, disaster") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 厂 (がんだれ (cliff)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 厄 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 厂 (がんだれ (cliff)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 厄?
For 厄 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ヤク and the Kunyomi is —. 厄 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヤク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 厄 includes 厄 (ヤク / やく (yaku) — unlucky).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 厄 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 厄 (unlucky, misfortune, bad luck, disaster), start with the 厂 (がんだれ (cliff)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 厄 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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